ANGRY patients turned up to a locked hospital again yesterday, a week after assurances that last week’s closure was a one-off.
When patients complained of not being able to drop samples off at Flint Community Hospital a week ago – the hospital is being closed as part of a health service shake-up in North Wales – health officials apologised and said: “In future we will make sure appropriate arrangements are in place.”
But when a patient arrived for his 3pm appointment yesterday, the doors were shut. Jack Reece said he was telephoned on Monday and told his appointment at the hospital would “definitely” take place.
Mr Reece wrote on facebook that other patients and a “very embarrassed” nurse sent from Glan Clwyd Hospital at Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, were also unable to enter the building.
Mr Reece said he intended to “go without” his clinic from now on. He described the situation as a “shambles”.
Lynn Knight wrote on facebook: “It’s disgusting the way they are treating people. You wouldn’t treat animals that way.”
A spokesman for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: “We would like to apologise to the patient who arrived for his clinic appointment at Flint Community Hospital today, only to find the front door locked.
“We have a porter at the hospital until 4.30pm every day. For security reasons, if this member of staff needs to leave the front reception, the front door must be locked.
“We are making arrangements to fit a digital lock to the front door of the hospital so staff will be able to access the building if the porter is not at the reception.”